Two women in Petraeus sex scandal lose security clearance

November 14, 2012 / 7:18 PM
/ CBS/AP

WASHINGTON The military has suspended U.S. Army security clearance for former CIA director David Petraeus' mistress as well as the Air Force base pass of the Tampa socialite who sparked the ongoing sex scandal that led to his resignation.

CBS News correspondent Bob Orr reports that biographer Paula Broadwell, a former Army intelligence officer, had her security clearance suspended. Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Steven Warren told The Associated Press the decision to indefinitely suspend Jill Kelley's pass to MacDill Air Force Base was made in the last couple of days.

Kelley's complaints about threatening emails triggered the FBI investigation that led to the resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus and a probe into communications between her and the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan. Petraeus had resigned on Friday after admitting to an extramarital affair with Broadwell, his biographer.

Warren said it was decided the pass suspension would be in the best interest of the Air Force base community. Kelley can still enter the base but now must report to the visitor center and sign in like everyone who doesn't have a pass.

}
}

Kelley, who has identified herself as an informal liaison for the military community, met Petraeus five years ago while doing charitable work for Army families. She and her husband often attend events at the military's Central Command in Tampa. Petraeus, and other top military brass, have been guests of the couples own lavish parties hosted at their own Tampa home.

Trending News

Threatened by news vans camped outside her stately home since the scandal broke, she tried to use her credentials to get diplomatic protection. In a phone call to 911, she complained that media had descended on her two-story, five-bedroom brick home overlooking Tampa Bay, which was purchased in 2004 for $1.5 million.

"You know, I don't know if by any chance, because I'm an honorary consul general, so I have inviolability, so they should not be able to cross my property," she told the 911 dispatcher Monday. "I don't know if you want to get diplomatic protection involved as well.

Kelley was also appointed honorary consul for South Korea for the city of Tampa several months ago, and still holds that position, said Kristen Smith, executive assistant at the South Korean consulate in Atlanta, which also covers Florida. Smith didn't know how Kelley got the honor and did not know specifically what she did on behalf of South Korea.

Nearly all lines in the tangled sex scandal involving Petraeus lead back to Kelley, whose complaint about anonymous, threatening emails triggered the FBI investigation that led to the general's downfall as director of the CIA and the uncovering of his affair with Broadwell. And now Kelley is in the middle of an investigation of Gen. John Allen, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, over alleged "inappropriate communications" between the two.

A senior official told CBS News correspondent David Martin the vast majority of the emails between Allen and Kelly were "completely innocuous" and the general believes many of the 20-30,000 pages under scrutiny are duplicates.

Kelley would email things like, "saw you on television and you were terrific," and Allen responded, "thanks, sweetheart." The official said the two never discussed sex and that Allen had never been alone with Kelley.

Nonetheless, Pentagon and FBI sources told CBS News correspondent Bob Orr the communications, if made public, "would be embarrassing" and another source said they were likely more than just innocent exchanges - noting that the Pentagon's Inspector General is involved for a reason.

Sources tell CBS News that investigators are focusing on an anonymous email from several months ago that is believed to have come from Broadwell. Broadwell allegedly warned Gen. Allen that Kelly was "a seductress."

Broadwell allegedly sent similar warning to other military officers at the U.S. Central Command.

Both Kelley and Allen deny having an affair or any physical relationship.

}
}

At a news conference Wednesday, President Barack Obama said he has seen no evidence to suggest that classified information was compromised because of the scandal. Obama said Petraeus did not meet his own standards to serve as CIA director because of his improper relationship with Broadwell.

Court documents obtained by The Associated Press also detail financial troubles for the Kelleys and Jill Kelley's twin sister, Natalie Khawam, who lived with the couple.

Chase Bank sued Scott Kelley in 2010 over a $25,880 unpaid credit card bill, and an investment by the Kelleys in a Tampa office building turned into a dispute with the tenant over $28,000-a-month rent. The couple didn't pay the mortgage and entered into foreclosure.

Attorney Barry Cohen represented the Kelleys in the case, but they turned around and sued him over legal fees, claiming he overcharged them by $5,000. The suit was dismissed, but court documents did not say what happened.